Apple claims that their new Intel Core 2 Duo-powered MacBook Pro portable computers are up to 39 percent faster than their previous models. We're inclined to agree: These speedy portable computers are loaded with high-end components yet still packaged in the svelte style we've grown accustomed to from Apple. Of course, they are also fairly pricey compared to their compatriots, although that's another hallmark of the Apple brand.

The baseline MacBook Pro features a 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo CPU and starts out at around two grand. The higher-end portable computers ship with the faster 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo and expanded components, although the price jump is $500 to get the next level.

Apple pairs the Core 2 Duo processor with a respectable 1GB of fast 667MHz DDR2 memory at baseline, a good amount for the average laptop user. If you'll be doing some graphic design or other high-end activities, you may want to beef up the memory. These systems support up to 3GB of RAM, and you can upgrade to 2GB for a reasonable price. Even without the memory upgrade, the core power on these systems is blazingly fast for everything from image editing to handling multimedia.

Hard drive space is also fairly generous, with these baseline laptops starting out with 120GB 5,400rpm drives. If you need more storage room, you can beef it up to a 160GB drive for $100 or a 200GB drive for $200, although that 200GB hard drive spins more slowly at only 4,200rpm so you'll be making some space vs. speed sacrifices in the process.

The slot-loading optical drive on the side of the MacBook Pro is one of Apple's SuperDrives. These DVD writers can handle traditional CD and DVD burns as well as burning to high-capacity Double Layer media. It burns to DVD+R DL media at 6.4X, creating large backups of up to 8.5GB or house up to four hours of high-quality video on a single disk.

Visually, these portable computers are fun to look at. The baseline MacBook Pro ships with a 15-inch widescreen display offering 1440x900 resolution for sharp images with bright colors. There's a built-in iSight camera that makes it easy to videoconference with business partners or video chat with friends around the globe.

The MacBook Pro also features ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics with 128MB of dedicated video memory (256MB on the higher-end models) for excellent gaming and multimedia editing performance.

Apple is known for adding nice design touches that just make their systems feel right. For example, the keyboard features backlit keys for typing in low-light environments, and the portable computer has an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts this backlight as well as the screen brightness to changes in your environment. You get an Apple Remote with these portable computers; it's a handy input device for giving presentations or just watching DVD movies in a hotel room.

Connectivity includes built-in 802.11g WiFi, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and Bluetooth 2.0 for synching data with your compatible PDA or cell phone. There are also two Firewire ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and an ExpressCard/34 slot for connecting high-speed peripherals, but there's no built-in modem if you still rely on dial-up communication.

The 60-watt-hour battery offers 4.5 hours of battery life, and the 15-inch MacBook Pro weighs 5.6 pounds, making it quite portable even with all the components packed inside.

Just for comparison, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is priced at just under $2,800, but features the faster 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo CPU and ships with 2GB of memory. You also get the 160GB hard drive, a faster SuperDrive (which burns DL media at 8X), 256MB of video memory with the graphics card, and an additional USB port. The larger screen adds extra weight (this portable computer weighs in at just under seven pounds), but gives you a lot more viewing area.

Regardless of model, Apple includes their iLife '06 suite of multimedia applications, although you'll have to shell out around $80 if you want their iWork '06 office suite with your portable computer. Apple also includes a one-year warranty on these systems across the board, with their extended coverage Apple Protection Plan beefing the warranty up to three years at a cost of $349.

Apple's MacBook Pro series with Intel Core 2 Duo processors are the fastest portable computers you can find with the Apple logo on the outside. They're sharply designed, feature excellent high-end components, but boast a fairly hefty price tag.


Pro: Very fast, great components
Con: Expensive

Warranty
1 year